PEABODY — The Peabody High girls soccer team may start five freshmen, but they looked like tournament-tested veterans yesterday.

Peabody High freshman Hayley Dowd, the Northeastern Conference Large's Player of the Year, scored a hat trick while fellow freshman forward Victoria Digiacomo added a goal and two assists as the Tanners rolled over visiting Haverhill, 5-0, in a Division 1 North first round playoff contest at Donahue Field.

"These freshmen continue to amaze me," said Peabody head coach Dennis Desroches, his club now a sterling 17-0-2 on the season. "Most of them have played in big games in the past with club or state teams."

Dowd put the Tanners on the board a mere five minutes into the match when she took a perfectly placed through ball from junior captain Angela Ellison and booted it past Haverhill goalie Meghan Gulbrandsen.

Dowd scored again before the end of the half when she curled a shot from the side of the box into the top far corner of the net. The fabulous freshman would add another goal to open the second half when she took a well-placed feed from Digiacomo and slipped the ball past Gulbrandsen to give Peabody a 4-0 lead.

"No. 21 (Dowd) and 13 (Digiacomo) are players," said Haverhill head coach Fred Tarbox. "They're really fast and caused a lot of problems for us."

Digiacomo had scored Peabody's second goal when she banked a cross off of a Hillies' defender and into the net. She also assisted freshman Catarina Rocha on the final tally of the match.

"I think (Dowd and Digiacomo) benefit from having a lot of speed," said Desroches. "But it all starts with the leadership we have in the middle of the field. Our captains at midfield, (Emily) Manoogian and (Angela) Ellison, are the table setters. They're the ones giving (Dowd and Digiacomo) the feeds." As much as the Peabody offense flourished in the club's first tournament game, Desroches believed just as much credit should go to his team's defense.

"I'm very proud of the way we came out fast and got on the board early," explained Desroches, "but credit our defense, too. From the forwards to the midfield to the defenders and goalie, they all played well. Every time we lost possession, we were determined to get it back."

Freshmen Kara Digiacomo and Cayla Bucci were poised on defense the entire game, thwarting away attack after attack from the Hillies. Along with Dowd and Victoria Digiacomo, the defensive duo showed no signs of being nervous, even when the match was still close in the first half.

"I think because (Peabody's freshmen) are so young and new (to the tournament) that a game like this doesn't rattle them," said Tarbox.

Peabody will continue its bid for a state championship when it hosts sixth-seeded Lincoln-Sudbury (12-3-2) tomorrow at home.